PROJECT BLUE BOOK

CASS #3 (conta)
At 0003I an ¥-94 was airborne on a scramble and vas requested to search to the Ni
of Haneda AYB over Tokyo Bay. They could mbke no visual observations, but could see
the North Star ana Venus. The 7-9) was vectored to the object by CCI (boty the F-94
end object vere on the scope) and held of for 90 seconds. Shortly after this, both
the object ana the F-9h disappeared into the growl clutter on the CCI. At no tim
$24 the P-oh mali viowsl contact. The rader contact indicated the target was at 6000 |
yards, 10° below end 10° ts the right of « 320° bearing from the station, Sou after i
loss of radar contest, the chjest was lost visually. § :
i :
j The F-Sb crev reported excellent visibility, yet they could not visually observe |
the object during a thorough search of the area. They stated thst the moon was bright
| andl might possibly have caused reflections off the few scattered clouds. This, however,
ig not in agreement with the description of an exceptionally tright light given by ithe i
Since the veather was not given, it ts not possible to determine whether the \r
return wes caused by some type of anoomlous propagstion. i: |
Coneluston | Rete 52 Spat

— -abesce :

ee al

RR rrr

62 43.
5 August 1952 | Yoneda AYB, Japen
Deseription of Incident
The object was first noticed by two airmen walking acroes the ramp at Enneda AV3
on the night of 5 Aug 52 at 23305 (local tim). The airmen vere om their wey to the |
tower to relieve the operators. On rejorting to the tower, the object was called to the )
attention of the tower operetors vho were going off duty. ) i
The four operatars agreed that the object, which they cbeerved for from 50 mimites
to an hour through 790 binceulers, wes circular in shape and vith constant brilliance.
The light appeared to be a portion of &@ large, round, dark shape which was about 4
times the diameter of the light, When the object was close enough for details to be
seen, & smaller, less brilliant light could be seen along the lower edge of the dark
shape. The object faded to the east twice but reappeared; it could have feded or
actually gone sway end come beck. ‘The size of the light, when closest to the tower, ves
approximately the seme as the ceiling balloons that are released near the tover, A |
camperison was meade to these 24" diameter balloons at 2000". This would make the cbhject —
50° in diamter at 10 miles. During the observation, a lighted balloon was released
Wut thts Light ves extramiy dim and yellow compared to the chject. } :
An aizberne C-5% wes requested to chbek the object, which the pilot dia, but he re- |

i

ported seeing only a star. — ' _
An ACK unit vas notifies som after the original visual sighting and shortly ody
after 23)5% picked up en unidentified return. The cbject was tracked at varying }
speeds from hovering to 300 nets. At O012I the retumn “broke into three pieces" and
they maintained intervals of 1/4 mile. Jo visual observation was made from the ACLW
mit although it was attempted and, at one time, the object was within 10 miles of the
station, The radar was cirected onto the target by visual observations from the tover,

So :% can savely be assumed chat Doth visual ond radar contacts involved the same cb ject.

-~7e ww

eee i eee
’

\

cnt
4
7

PR Ee,
eee ee

j
i

; | game’ time the tower and ground radar lost it, too. Att

i af the sighting, the object as secn on the ground radar

. up into three pieces which few formation at quarter-mile in-
tervals.” During the incident, a weather balloon was released
at the base, and the witnesses reported that its light was much
dimmer than that-of the UFO, of the puzding Te ew of |

the incident was that ncither the pint nor the r crew
, was able to get 4 visual sighting on the object, although cach
was closer te it than the air hase tower * As

=. QQ —— —

aes
.

AF Foe 119—ParT
APPROVED ¢ JUNE 1940
AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT
“Ying intelligence = i i , |
35th FtreIntep Wg, APO 994 TR~1-52 mee o . onus

C at Jo

6° 4iaitee

—

7 -

GS Me “s |

—— te ia - - ——

te? 4! : . ;
. bs | ; . 2 ,
. eo = ‘,; P : = + = & S. : = ‘ P ** .
} Pe eee ee Oe eT ey ee ee Pee ee eee ee ae ee eee ee TS eee

Bay, ;

radar scope ca both high and : een Eh

four (b) blips on low bean bat mane T could definitely ast ae ei
could get a resding en the MI scopes AO SRS Nees te re ee

lst Lt Melvin &., Rawlins is stationed at Shirei ani is
able te sign narrative statement.

7
|

»
-4

fay Se, of cha 4 ss
The officer reperted for werk at Site fh, at 23h5I, 5 Aug 52. Cam-
treller being informed me of an unusual sighting reported te hia by Haneda

tower operator, This ms reported te me as being a lighted object hovering north-
east of Haneda. After discussion with ADCC controller, it was decided that an ’-9h
should Se scrambled to investigte. |

At the time of scramble, I had what was believed to be the object in radar con-_.
tacte The radar sighting indicated the object to be due south of this station over
Tokye Bay and approximately eight (8) miles northeast of Hameda,. ‘the target was in

a right orbit moving at varying speeds. It ws impossible to estimate speed dus to
the shert cistance and tines invelved. -

b

——-

ow
-
;
. ‘
. / . * «,+**s ~~ . _-
tet ces BES 0. ee ced Ea est ret ce ee ee ieee.

AG yp: fie es ——_ a -

OF a me oe

AF FORM 112—PART I
APPROVED 1 JUNE 1348

(ClASS

AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT

FROM (Agency) REPORT WO.

ATIL Office, D/I FEAF | ™-35-52 Owe Ol a

mt 4

we ab. wer rer Pt
tan a7 ve Pe de | Phe 7
-, oie Sak + 4 B53
ww? Bee ~~ ~ Wy ote
. ~ a ] ew? . hoy —f, 4
‘< = . a er

a> eer

: +i A 5%
ee - “hs: es. Se apr
a ee ee ee
. ~ . i. a A Rais <> ~-
5 rm, sae ae
» ie - "pa Ts: ey
. -

DRAWING OF OBJECT AS DESCRIBED BY CONTROL TOVER PERSONNEL, HANEDA AFB, JAPAN,
2330/1 to 0030/I, 5/6 Aug 52.

1. Center Light - constant brilliance across entire area (not due to a
point-source of light).

2, Dark Area - Not determined whether due to a dark body, or due to
shadow or blinding effect from the brilliant light.

3. Lights on Periphery - Light at lower left, small and falsly bright.
Other lights dimmer and possibly smaller.

L. Weather - Visibility, excellent. Full moon, with 36° elevation,
189° azsinuth,.

im oy 4a) 5, Location of Object = Approximately 50° bearing from Haneds AFS,

a a ————— _

~ Ce 7. «

/ { | r | f
5 bs ‘ im '
AF FORM 112—PART 1 ee

APPROVED 1. JUNE 1948 intl
AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT

FROM (Agency) REPORT NO.
ATIL Office ; D/I FEAF oh A TR-35-52 PAGE 1 oF 1 PAGES

STATEMENT

The first time I noticed the intense bright light over the Bay, was while

see the ramp on our way to the tower. At first we thought it was an air-
craft with landing lights on, but as we kept watching we noticed it wasn't mov-

ing. When we were about half way across the ramp it disappeared for the first
' time and returned to approximately the same spot about 15 seconds later.

After we got in the tower I started looking at it with binoculars, which
made the object much clearer. Around the bright white light in the middle, :
there was a darker object which stood out against the sky, having little white ’
lights along the outer edge, and a glare around the whole thing.

gy EN _—

I watched it disappear twice through the glasses. It seemed to travel to
the East and gaining altitude at a very fast speed, much faster than any jet. i
Every time it disappeared it returned again, except for the last time when the
jets were around. It seemed to know they were there.

As for an estimate on the size of the object----I couldn't even guess.

I know it wasn't a star, weather balloons or Venus, because I compared it

When we first saw it, we estimated it to be at about 5,000 feet. We
couldn't estimate the distance because of the angle we were looking at it
and the brightness. It was to the NNE of the field.

I watched it from 11:30 to 12:30, it was very clear in the east until

then. The bright light disappeared again at about 12:30 and we lost sight
of it due to the broken clouds that moved in at that time. We kept looking
for it whenever the clouds broke, but we never saw it again.

’ 7 ie
} ‘
/s/ Licoya West :
/t/ LLOYD WEST ane ia)
4/3C, USAF Oa

. 3 - >
. *
ee ee SS en eee

ww lr

AF FORM 112—PART lf ~

AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT

1. At 2330/ August 1952, A/3C Lloyd West and A/1C Walter Outowski, 1956-1
AACS Detactifient, @ crossing the ramp on their way to work at the Haneda Air Force
Base control tower, (35°33'N-139°45'EB), sighted an exceptionally bright light in the
y to the NE of Haneda Air Force Base. Upon reporting for duty, they brought the
object to the attention of A/2C Walter Jackson and A/3C George LaGasse, who had not
previously’ noticed it because the operating load had been keeping their attention

elsewhere. “

_ @. The four operators agreed on the appearance of the object and watched

'
FROM (.4gency) REPORT NO.
ATIL Office, D/I FEAy IR-35-52 ne | » kk nes
|
/
it through 7 x 50 binoculars for a total period of about 50 minutes.to 1 hour, The (
light was described as circular in shape, with brilliance appearing to be constant |
across the face. The“?Tpht appeared to be a portion of a large round dark shape which
was about four times the diameter of the light. When the object was close enough for
details to be seen, a smaller, less—brilliant light could be seen at the lower lefte !
hand edge, with two or three more dim lights running in a curved lins along the rest |
of lower edge of the dark shape. Only the lower portion of the darker shapes could be ie
determined, due to the lighter sky which was believed to have blended with the uopsr 7 Pp

side of the ctJject. No rotation was noticed. Wo sound was heard, - ; mY | =

b. ‘The object faded twice to the East, then returned. Observers were un-
certain whether digappearance was due to a dimming of the lights, rotation of object,
or to the object nt a te away at terrific speed, since at times of fading, the object
was difficult to follow closely, except as a small light. Observers did agree that f
when close, the object did appear to move horizontally, varying apparent position and |. -
speed slightly.” ....... hy: 7 | Lt SEY

‘c.: Three of the operators indicated the size of the light, when closest to
the tower, was approximately the same as the small ceiling balloons (30 grams, appear=
ing 2, inches in diameter) when launched from the weather station, located at about
2000 feet from the tower. This would make the size of the central light about 50 feet
in diameter, when at the 10 miles distance tracked by GCI. At the greatest distance,
the size of the light appeared slightly larger than Venus, approximately due East of .
Haneda and slightly brighter. A lighted weather balloon was launched at 2,00 hours. | |
The balloon's light was described as axtremely dim and yellow, when compared to the .
brilliant blue-white light of the object. Observers stated that their eyes would
fatigue repidly when they attempted to concentrate their vision on the object.

d. Shiroi GCI was contacted, (35°9'N-1,0°02tz), and after visual vectors

:

. ars
ee eee ee Oe een
= eeeetsee

or

were given, ys able to track the object. An F-9i-was in turn scrambled for an at- | |.
tempted intercept. as 7 nnd uontor !
ee . Aecelir ° 30 ia e

e. “The control tower at|Tachikewa Air Force Base| called Haneda tower at ap- | =.
proximately 2350/I to bring their attention to a OF ant white light over Tokyo Bay.
Ths tower repiled that it had been in view for some time and that it was being checked, .

f. A C-5, entering Haneda traffic was requested to check the object. The
pilot replied that it looked like a brilliant star and dismissed the sighting as such. .

g- The F-94 appeared over Haneda just before the C-5l; landed, After the
F-9), turned Yorth, the tower called Shiro! to direct tha F-9'; to turn right. Mo visual

contact was mace oy the F-9L,.

h. The F-9y was vectored to the radar contact maintained by the Shiroi GCI.
A radar contact was made by the F-9i,, but was lost after 90 seconds. Soon after loss
of radar contact by Shiroi and the F-9,, the tower lost visual contact as the object
either faded, moved away, or was obstructed by clouds.
| he’

o=_—- oe a | _

—

AF FORM 112—PART Il
APPROVED | JUNE 1988

AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT

FROM (Agency) REPORT 10.
!

ATIL Office, D/I FEAF |___TR+35-52 a A , pacts

2. Site #,, 528th Aircraft Control and Warning Group, located at Shiroi Air
Forces Base, Was notified of the location of the unidentified object soon after the
first visual contact by Haneda tower. The CPS-1 radar is normally operated at maximum

range, and contact was attempted on both high and low beams by Lt. Rawlins, the con-
troller then on duty. Three or four blips were noted at a position 050° bearing from

Haneda, as réported by the tower, but no definite movement could be ascertained, and
no Height/Range contact could be made with the CPS-l,; due to ground clutter.

as Lt. Albert for duty at 23,5/I, and was soon able to make radar
contact on the 50 mile high beam. An F-Si, was scrambled to investigats. The object
at this time had left the ground clutter and could be tracked at varying speeds in a
right orbit. Although impossible to accurately estimate speed, Lt. Albert gave a
rough estimate of from 100-150 knots, stopping and hovering occasionally, and a maximum
speed during the second orbit (just before F-9l, was vectored in) of possibly 250-300
knots. At approximately 0012/I the object reportedly broke into three smaller contacts
maintaining an interval of about 1/) mile, with one contact remaining somewhat brighter
The F-9lj was vectored on this object, reporting weak contact at 0015/I and loss of con-
tact at 0018/I. Within a few seconds, both the F-9l; and the object entered the ground

clutter and were not seen again.

b. ‘The blips on the CPS-1 were described as emall and relatively weak, but
sharply defined. The brightness varied somewhat, and at one time appeared-very bright
as the object appeared to be in a fairly sharp turn at higher speed than previously
noted, Both recorded orbits were in acproximately the same position, with the object —

moving and occasionally hovering in one position for several sweeps th, RPM). Surveil-
lance of area was made for an extended period of time and no further contact was made,

c. The ADCC Controller at Johnson Air Force Base was kept informed of the |
incident at ft°took place, Personnel at Site #, attempted unsuccessfully to make _
visual contact with the object, which at times was less than ten miles distance from |
Shirei Air Poree ‘Base, Radar was functioning normally before and after the incident,

»% vs #0

a

3. The "POLB with:lst Lt. Wesley R. Holder as pilot and lst Lt. Aaron Jones as '}*
radar operator, was scrambled at approximately 2355/I. There was a slight delay in be-
coming airborne to fuel system trouble during run-up. Aircraft became.airborne at |
0003/T and wd#“directed to make a search from Haneda Air Force Base northeast over
Tokyo Bay. W6" vigual contact was made at any time. —— a

rrr eee /

a. “The F-9 crew reported exceptional visibility in the air, with a very thin
cloud layer at 1,000 to 16,000 feet and one or two isolated patches of thin clouds lo
er. The C-5if in the pattern at Haneda Air Force Base was very clearly seen. The only
stars seen at 4 low elevation were the North Star and Venus. As the F-9 headed North, ;
the Control Tower asked CCI to vector the F-9, toward the east. Looking off their right
forward quadrant and turning in the direction requested, the F-9, was still unable to .
see anything unusual. i |

b. ‘As the F-9 orbited to the right at approximately 330 knots T.A.S., the
\OCI radar reestablished contact with ‘the object and vectored ths F-9l, on a course of
320°, GCI called the object at 11 o'clock to the F- at); miles. At this time the
Pol, managed so make a weak contact ai 10° port, 10° low, eat a range of 6,090 yards.

c. The radar contact at approximately 35°37'N-139°56'E, was described as weak
and small but. distinct and definable from the ground clutter encountered. The radar
operator, Lt.-. Jones, was very busy, maintaining the weak contact by manual control. - As
the object moved across the scope from the port to starboard, it appeared to increase -
and Lt.. Jones called for a hard right turn. As the aircraft turned, the object

appeared to sudd accelerate and disavpsared rapidly from the scope on a courses of .
th Clete 6 ..4 “ube

ee

bed. Rnnroadt 5 eer

a Fae

: 7
- a ge

_-

AF FORM 112—PART II (CLASSIFICATION)

AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT

APPROVED | JUNE 1548

FROM (Agency) p REPORT WO.
L Office, D/I FEAF IR-35-52 PAGE 3 oo 4 PAGES

approximately 055°. Contact was maintained for approximately 90 secénds. No further
returrrs were found. In a search pattern, the pilot checked the area very thoroughly

for any visual signs without. success.

d. The APG-33 radar is checked before and after every mission and appeared
to be working normally. The blip was described as definitely an airborne target and
behaved as a bona-fide target, except when it appeared to accelerate off the right

of the scope. The overcast was extremely thin, and all objects in the area could
be seen clearly. The F-9, crew stated that there was no possibility of any radar con-
tact from any of the clouds in the area at that time.

l.. Haneda weather at time of sighting was recorded as 2500 scattered, 16000
broken, 15 miles visibility, with wind SSE at 11 mph. Weather reported by the per-
sonnel involved in the incident was thin scattered to broken at 1,,000-16,000 feet,
generally thin enough to allow almost full brilliance of the moon to shires through.

One or two thin scattered puffs were reported by the F-9 crew with none reported by «
Haneda tower. The weather moving in from the southwest was lower broken clouds suf-

ficient to obscure the moon as the clouds moved over Tokyo Bay about 00,5/I to 0100/I,
Visibility was reported.as exceptional with Mount Fuji (60 nautical miles to the west)
clearly discernable. Scattered thunderstorm activity was reported in the mountains to

the Northwest of the Tokyo area. Temperature recorded at Haneda was 78°, Dew Point 73.

with altimeter setting of 29.81 inches.

}

tive.

! ” ;
‘drimbstome | 4

a. ‘Tower personnel cross-checked all known factors constantly and did not
attempt ‘to make any inferences in the sighting. Object is believed to have been re-
ported exactly as they saw it. |

b. Lt. Albert, GCI Controller at the Shiroi site, has had considerable ex-
perience undéf all conditions and thoroughly understands the capabilities of the CPS-1
radar. His statement was that the object was a bone-fide moving target, though some-
what weaker than that normally obtained from a single jet fighter.

c. ‘Et. Jones, F-9l;" radar operator, has had about seven years experience |

with airbornd radar equipment. He states that the object was a bona-fide target, and
that to his knowledge, there was nothing within a area of 15-20 miles that could give
/

a radar echo, of

COMMENTS BY PREPARING OFFICER:

be oe

l. The ten minute difference in time between the statement by Lt. Albert, 528th
AC & W Sq., and that reported by other personnel concerned, is believad to be a typo-
graphical error, since the statement agrees on every other portion of the sighting.

2. The map grid coordinates listed on 35th Fighter Interceptor Wing Form 112,
IR-1-52, are in error, since the area of contact was as shown in Inclosure #5. Error
may have been’ due to a mis-reading by the original debriefing officer.

| 53. This is the first sighting in the Far East which comdired positive visual
and radar contact over an extended period of time. The following items may have some
bearing on this sighting:

a. On the night of the incident, there was a full moon. The F-9 crew re-

ported exceptional visibility and stated that the upper cloud layer did not appreciably

-

affect the brilliancy of the moonlight. Reflections off the water were considered ,as

5. the personnel, involved were all serious, intelligent, and completely coopera-

——— ee

: - * ~ § ‘ / ' :
AF FORM 112—PART Il ;

“whiny AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT

FROM (sigency) ; . REORT NO, ‘
ATIL Office, D/I FEAF | IR-35-52 PAGE OF 4 PAGES

sufficient to form secondary reflections off the lower clouds. Isolated patches of
thin clouds were reported by the F-9; crew as being at approximately 000 feet, with
fairly strong reflections making them visible. These clouds were not reported to be
visible by the control tower personnel. A/3C LaGasse reported that as he returned to
the barracks, he noticed that the object seemed somewhat higher in the sky than pre-
viously 1, and. that he noticed at the same time that the moon seemed proportionately

higher in elevation.

6: Tere was some thunderstorm activity in the mountains to the northwest.
of Tokyo. Although lower broken clouds later moved over Tokyo Bay, there was no re-~ '
ported electrical activity or vertical development in these clouds. Visibility was
approximately the same as earlier.

¢. The only objects reported in the area at the time of sighting were the
C-5, landing at Haneda and the weather balloon launched by the Haneda weather station |. 4
at 2,00/I. Both were continually in sight of control tower personnel. Venus was
located low on the horizon and was definitely identified by the Tower, the GCI Site,

and the F-ol crew.

a. According. to the radar tracking, the object should have passed very close-
to Site #, at Shiroi. .A constant search of the area by personnel at the site, and the
thorough search by the, F-O, without visual contact indicates possible moonlight re-"''"|» ~’
flections, since the object was visible to the tower personnel’ ‘at“both Haneda and at ~|"""~
Tachikawa, located 30 miles to the west. The azimuth of the moon at this time was 6}

, with an @levation of approximately 36°. A secondary reflection off a cloud could
conceivably be bright to observers to the south or west, while the remainder of the

cloud could block the reflection from above and to ‘the north. gli Cee

e. ‘The The F-9I, crew evidently made an extremely thorough search over the area,
and appeared ‘to be perplexed that they had been mable to make visual contact, since oN
giles within 20 to 25 miles was easily visible. Flying at 5,000 feet, they could |. .«
spot the isolated. lower cloud patches. Failure to sight the objact could only be due™: | tae
to the light Being om the lower surface of the object, or reflected in a narrow beam --

toward the adith and west, i s:
we 28

f. ie atrange appearance could be attributed to a localized blinding effect
causing the filusion of a darker form, particularly with the lower scattered ae to

give an illuston ‘of an outline.

g. “Although many sizhtings might be attributed to visual and electrical re- —}"
flections off ionized areas in the atmosphere, the near-perfect visibility on the nighty-
of the sighting, together with the circular orbit of the object would tend to disprove

this theory. | 3 :
|

‘
>
> .
es

hey holee

rat Chadiic\ Ms NS. vm
, CHARLES S\ MALVEN !
wt > we

U ive Lidd va

} is - (LEAVE ULANA)

AIR INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION REPORT

ai —— ™ i he es
FLYOBRPT ——

"WREA PEPCR TED OW i a FROM | Agence) ; . ve “
Japan — et Re POR, A ee 5 AT ae ATIL Office, D/L FEAF *_

DATE OF REPORT OATE OF IMPOR MATION | EVALUATION . ‘aw a
12 angust 1958 ___| 5 August 1952 | Be2

PREPARED BY (Officer) | SOURCE og
Charles J. Malven, Captain, USAF (ATLO) | JADF & MATS Personnel

REFERENCES (Conds of j mumber, ; previous report, Ac., as applicabie} ,

AFL 200-5, dtd 29 Apr 52; IR-1-52 (35th P.I- Wg), dtd 7 Aug 52 ___ | :

SUMMARY: (Anter wacion semmery of repert. Give significance in Anai one-sentence paragraph. Liat tnclomures ot lower left. Ragin tert of report on AP Form 119—Part (7)

Thie report concerns the visual and radar sighting of an unidentified

: flying object in the Tokyo area, 2330/1, 5 August 1952. The object was first
sighted visually by control tower personnel at Hemede Air Torse Peres tracked E
eee Te” ¢

by Tokyo ‘OCT located at Shiret Air Force Base, and briefly contacted by the
APO-33 radar on an F-9l; vectored on the object by the CGI radar.
oT Le. . Brigadier General, USAF Sh: Be.

a A SPT Deputy for Intelligence RL >Re

: ake. ; <——%

:

; . ¢ “4

i>. ae

* vg

4 v : Yi

mcs | | i

1. Statement by A/3c Lloyd West 1> 9. t
2. Sketch of Object : , #
3, Statement by lst Lt. Henry E. Albert i

| {. Statement by lst Lt. Melvin E, Rawlins

e Sketch of track of Gbject

» 7, & & Calibration charts of Site Ay, Ra
ee y ——

;
.
La . ~
. .
. .
.
. °
’ “4 = ’
, 6
--
>" °
:
a -
ee ee

—

ao

§ August 1952, Haneda AFB, Japan °

Report of radar targets does not allow a plausable explanation of .
the nature of the targets. Absence of weather data, i.e. temperature .
vs height and moisture ve height, does not allow an anomalous propaga= |
tion estimate. ee ae Seen eee Saeuee Oe oppor Ne
be permanent echoes at various s

Capt Ro Le Jemes
15 September 1952

if

——-